Hunt’s Australia progress to Asian Cup quarter-finals

Clare Hunt started and helped preserve a clean for Australia as they progressed to the quarter-final of the Women’s Asian Cup with a 4-0 win over Iran on Thursday morning.

The defender maintained her place in the starting XI and played 73 minutes on the Gold Coast before being replaced by Steph Catley for the final quarter of the game.

An impressive first half performance from the Matildas saw them head into the break with a three-goal advantage – Amy Sayer, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy on the scoresheet – before Kennedy grabbed her second of the match in the second period to round off an excellent win on home soil.

Australia move into the last eight after two wins from two in Group A alongside South Korea, who have also picked up maximum points in their first two fixtures after beating Philippines 3-0 earlier this morning.

Clare’s nation still has one more group fixture to play though, as they take on South Korea to determine who finishes top of the group on Sunday (8 March).

Toko Koga and Maika Hamano is next up in Japan’s second match in Group C against India – a victory would also see our Japanese duo progress to the quarter-final.